Now from Roy, his version of the events swirling around the Gainsville 200k. While Amanda and Roy's reports are an enjoyable and interesting read, this blog thrives on controversy, speculation, made up stuff, juicy gossip and outright falsehoods. Please, someone forward me something scandalous about Todd Lee.For some, the pilgrimage taken is along a religious route. For some still, the defining moments of metaphysical nirvana and synchronicity come via a different path. From hardship comes triumph, that is the overwhelming theme for this years trip to Florida.

The drive is grueling, some 14 hours via Rathburn/Burnham/Gridly/Williams airlines. We where transporting 13 of us to the familiar and markedly warmer confines of Northern Florida. Given the pace (warp 80), 3 bikes on the roof (including a tandem), and the fuel capacity of a moped, the Mazda 5 achieved the spectacular mpg achievement of a monster truck. On the other side of the coin, Donn’s Avalanche could have made it on one tank……at 400 gallon tank by estimation of Dustin who filled it once…..The trip down, done through the night actually acts as good Randonneur training, sleep deprivation being a cornerstone of the lunacy which are the 400/600/1000/1200k events….but I digress.

Our goals as a group where somewhat modest, complete a fairly flat 200k in the light, in the warmth of Florida…..without eating a gun on the way back to Ohio seeing the snow return to our lives. Our arrival however was chilling and indeed the locals must have scorned our early arrival, a whole 22 degrees. We drove 900+ miles for 22? What the Fu…..pardon, cycling induced tourets.

The fundamental difference of Florida though is sunshine. Standing in the IHOP parking lot in Lake City (our unofficial Florida Welcome Center), you stand brazen without a coat because, damit it’s Florida and it WILL get warmer. The collective smiles from the group would make you think “Did these folks all drink the Kool-Aide or what?” So much was to be happy for at that moment, the drive down virtually behind us, the expectation of a high of 60…..the fun rides this afternoon and the 200k tomorrow. All is good in the world.

We rolled into to the Quality/Comfort Motel about 10 am to the greeting of beautiful palm trees and comfortable quarters. The extrication of cycling apparatus and gear from the cars took next to nothing compared to what it seemed like to pack. Tired but triumphant, we where here. Time to ride!

It didn’t mater that most of us had about as much sleep as speed addict at a rock concert, no, we where riding, plain and simple. The group split into two, 1 doing a leisurely ride around Gainesville, the other doing a 30 mile warm up on the bike trail. Reports from the leisurely ride group where that things went fine. On the Bike trail group things went well with the exception of the tandem breaking it’s chain and ripping the rear derailleur off. We managed to fix things up, however shifting was not good the rest of the weekend. Also, tell tale sniffling came from the stoker….a harbinger of things to come.

Carboloading was the word for the group for dinner. We where sat at the “family” table at Carraba’s Italian Grill. For those unfamiliar with the “Family” table, it’s about as long as your driveway and seats about 600. Still, our group filled it pretty well. A dental fatality did occur with poor Ross necessitating a visit to an emergency dentist. As it turns out, Olive pits are hard on dental work. Things were looking up though as Ross came back with narcotics for everyone.